Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-06-04
JUBILEE STATISTICS"

Through the kindness of Rev. H
j. MeKeefry, now in Ireland, we
have received copies of Editor
OBrien's paper, United Ireland
We had expected a weekly letter
from the reverend pastor of ST.
JoSephe, descriptive of his visit to
Europe, but his limited time and the
sickness of his father prevent his
writing for the present. The past
week he made trip to the Giants
Oauseway, and upon the recovery Of
his father he will visit other promi
nent points, and extend his travels
through other countries. A con
siderable portion Of our population
being Irish and of that descent, THE
HERALD would take pleasure in Civ.
ing view Of the true condition OF
Ireland as seen and judged by the
observant eye and discerning mind
of Rev. McKeefry.
"United Irelandn is a two fold
power in the Irish cause a power
in itself and in the fearless ability
of It's editor. We read in the met.
ropolitan dailies passing accounts Of
the hardships of the Irish tenants
and the cruelty and sufferings OF
the evicted families, but all this con.
veys far from complete idea of the
hardships undergone by the tenants
who cannot pay their rents. We
read in United Ireland" of sick
and helpless women being forcibly
removed from their beds, and left
On the roadside in a dying condi.
ton and of whole families forced to
the roads because they were in
arrears for rent. In some instances
the officers of the crown were them.
selves moved to pity and pleaded
with the landlords for a reduction
and an extension of time. No won.
der the Irish constabulary resign
their offices and leave their country.
The paper before us gives notice
OF a volume of statistics published
in honor of the Queens Jubilee, by
a celebrated statlstician. The open.
ing sentence reads: "The progress
made by the United Kingdom dur.
ing the last fifty years is wholly I'm.
precedented in our annals, and has
not been approached by any other
nation of Europe" The Chapter
on Ireland gives the lie direct in
these words: "The present reign
has been the most disastrous since
that of Elizabeth ~ The increase in
she death-rate in Ireland in this
period has been fearful, and is at.
tributed "partly to the sufferings,
exposure, and hardships undergone
by many thousands of people evicted
under circumstances of extreme
cruelty" The number of evictions
in this time is equal to 70 per cent.
of the present population, and the
per cent. of emigration is "a. "No
country in Europe or elsewhere has
suffered such wholesale extermina-
tion." There died of famine during
this Queens reign, 1,225,0OO per-
sons; 3,668,OO0 were eyicted and
4,1S6,OOO left the country as emf.
grants. That these were the flower
Of the population is proven by the
TACT that in America they have
largely settled the Western States,
and have become owners of millions
OF dollarS worth of property and
sent millions more back to helm
needy friends. 1850 ,.s
The statistician, in a comment,
says, Evictions were most numer.
ous Immediately after the Famine,
the landlords availing themselves OF
the period Of greatest calamity to
enforce their 'rights'"-a clrcum
stance which may explain to honest
folk who don't understand it why
landlords are a detested class in
Ireland. e
Every other portion of the British
Empire has prospered and increased
in trade and population; ireland
alone, to which. Castle Government,
landlordism, and Coercion Acts are
peculiar, is the one scared and
blackened spot in this magnificent
blaz0n of advancement. The blight
of a curse has swept her fields and
is still sweeping them. Her rulers
are to-day forging for her YET
another Coercion Act--are still pre-
pairing to wrest from her people the
last weapon with which they have
endeavoured to defend themselves
against oppression. Her people are
still flying for refuge into exile. One
would say it is hard for such a ma
tion to hope. Yet hoped she has
and hope she will with the sublime
confidence of nation foredestined
to regeneration. Her gay spirit is
gayer than ever when the clouds
loom darkest; and she stands to
day, her teeth set and her eyes
fixed steadfastly upon the bright